Given that Syria represents Russia's only mediterranean base, they'd be pretty fuckwitted to NOT sent troops to guard such an asset in th emiddle of what is increasingly recognised (even by Russia) as a civil war.

But hey - spin that shit to make it seem like Armageddon's acoming, that's exactly what the likes of Fox News have indoctrinated you into doing.

Might I remind you all that when the United States had its Civil War back in the 19th Century, who was it but Russia that surrounded the U.S. with warships to prevent the rest of the world from attacking the U.S. while it was settling its differences..